Rotary mhx feed



Sept. 25, 1934. L. M. zEPP 1,974,593

ROTARY MILL FEED Filed July 28. 1931 kung-1":

` 115i wear onthe supporting bearingsl and the consemeans.' i i i Patented Sept. 25, 1934 i -UINITEDfsTATl-:s PATENT ori-ICE Y' 1,974,593 1 j i t aoTAitY MILL FEED f Levigne` Moritz Zepp, Westminster, Md., asrsgnor. to Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company; `Columbia;

Chemical Division, Zanesville, Ohio, a corporation oi? Pennsylvania Application July 28, 1931,Seria1r` 'Nm v553,506

p 3 ClaimstlCl. 83-9) l v which are axially fed and generally continuous tofthe supply. I in their operation,` one `of the diirlcultiesheretof A clear conception can be had .of thepresen fore encountered is the tendency of the bearings invention by referring to the accompanying draw- `5 supporting the rotating container which is usually ing `wherein like `characters of reference denote 60 a cylinder tofwearype'rmitting the container to corresponding parts in the severalxviews.

settle and'throw'the axial feed pipe out of line,` 'In the drawing: j. x so thatfcramping and leakage result. Figure 1 is a fragmentaryvertical longitudinal" Another di'fliculty is incident to the regulation Section threllgh'el rotary COIIlmrllltrlg mill em-r `of`thefeed in accordance with the quantity of bedyng the improvements. i

material presented; i f i i i Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical secf 'The invention relates'in general'to' a'feed for tion taken on the`i1ine2 2 `in Figure 1. rotatingmills, first,` to an adjustment of the `feed i-Figure' is i an enlarged fragmentary VerticalV i pipein-connection with and inproportion to the SeCtiOn 0f the adjustable `feefippe Simpel-ting Inthefoperation of rotary mills of the type feed beingproportionate tothe head, and hence o e i Y 70 quent 'settlement ofthecylinder, and secondly, i Figure 4 isan enlarged hOrZOnlJal plerl'VeW ,to e mtho'dfof regulating theffiowtf meteriei of; the ratchet wheel removed;

130 the 1mm; :i v Y Referring to the drawing,` the machine shown *By means of theinvention the difficulties ie-` and in. connection with which the invention has ?v ferred to have been eliminated or minimized. been developed, the features ofwhich machine 'l5 @Theinvention embodies and provides means forl are not in the main essential to the invention, measuring 'for indicatingthe settlement of the eonsistsof a rotary continuously'operatin'g combe'ar-ings of the cylinder itself and means for adminutingimill ofthe type'comprising an elongatjusting the alignment of the feed pipe in accorded drum.3 supported `for' rotation about a hori- '245r ance with thevv readings" of the 'indicating means Zontal-axisby means of hollowftrunnions 1 and 1 80 and hence `in proportion to or in exact equality turning insuitable bearingsf` and 5, and adaptwith the settlement of the cylinder or container ed to be driveniby toothedvgear 50. Connected whereby the alignment of the feed pipe `with the to the outer portion ofthe' trunnion 1 which robearingsis maintained.` i tates in bearing 4,is a flange 6 or any suitable 301 Theinvention` further relates to the construe-- means securedto-the drurnstructure in the `vi 85 tionof `a feed pipe whereby the static vpressure orV cinity of trunnion l 'and' concentric with theaxis head of Vthe material within .the pipe due toqao-A` of theldrum tooperate in combination with the cumulation ofmaterial therein is caused to apply indicating `element of the invention.

a corresponding pressure at the feed opening, The feedof the material to the mill as illusregulating the ilow of materialy to the mill protrated inthe' drawing `is by=way of the axis, the 90 portici-lately 'to the supplyI ofrnaterial `presented stationary feed pipe 'liwhich'delivers to the drum to the mill to be ground. by way'of hollow trunnion` 1 being inserted in f To regulate the feed to theV supply, the feed the trunnion 1v and connected to the same by a pipe extends upwardly to an elevation suicient packing gland at `8. This' stationary pipe 7 is 1401toesteb1ish e pressure due to the height or heed Connected to an upright feedpipe or stand pipe 95 or material inthepipe which serves to force the 9 Fre suiteble union e and elbOWfll- A Packed materiel which ie of e finidor seine huid material S1113 10mi 10 ls-prQYlded between iw@ Sectlons 9' intoendtnrough Itheiniii et theoesired rete. and 9 Ofihelprlght feed P1P@ 9 t0 allow for When it is the intent of the operator toincrease .the Verhaal momo of the elbow 11 Th1s-e1b0w the-owgrth matalsjfed more rapidly and 1s shown as rigidly connected to the stationary 100 maintained et ehighei level within the pipe ine, feed P1P? 7 Whetebyh? moiemelt of the elbow creasing the feedingpressure, and when the flow 11 relatively to Joumgl l Whmh lts .acomphshed is to be retarded the material being fed is mainby. aCtua'tm-g the adJustable "Su-pporung meafns tained'vat a lower level reducing the pressure to be descrlbed Controls the ahgnment ci plpe Thus the flow lof material through the mill is 7 Wlth the Jouma l 105 The feed pipe '7, and elbow 11 are guided in their controlled by maintaining the accumulation of motion' of adjustment by means of the. key 30 material atyarious' levels Within the feed pipe,` secured tothe stationary supporting frame 31 deterinlned` by the rate `et Which the material and the keyway 32 formed in or in conjunction isr supplied, the pressure and hence the rate of. with the elbow l1.` To-move the elbow 11 up and 110 GOU- ' of adjustment.

down for purposes of adjustment in the preferred form of machine shown, the elbow 11 is connected to a screw 12 in any suitable manner as by means of a pin 13, the screw 12 and elbow 11 being caused to move in an upward or downward direction by an internally threaded sleeve 14 which cooperates with screw 12, the sleeve being rotated on the screw by means of a hand wheel 15 secured to the rotating member 14 by a keyway and key at 17. The threaded sleeve 14 is held against vertical motion by thrust and swivel bearing 16, which provides for rotation of the sleeve about the screw moving the screw 12, elbow 11 and the adjacent end of pipe 7 up'and down for'purposes of adjustment as aforesaid. To determine with the required degree of accuracy the angle of rotation of member 14, a ratchet wheel 1 8 is provided which is secured to the wheel r15 and` hence to the rotating member 14 by thekeyrvayy The teeth 18 of this ratchet are equally spaced each space corresponding in theA and key 17.

form shown to a suitable and equal arc of rotation of screw 12. Cooperatingy with the ratchet wheel 18 is a spring detent 9 which engages the x teeth on the ratchet wheel in turn, thus having the feed pipe resulting from turning ratchet 18 one tooth or any integral number of teeth.

This indicator comprises a feeler shown in the form of a roller 2O arranged to contact the flangey 6 on the journal and to swing downwardly therefrom and to be clamped. This roller is mounted upon the arm 29 of bell crank lever 21. Thebell crank lever 21 is mounted on a stationary plate 23 to swing about a journal pin 24 which allows the pointer 22 to move along the scale 35as vthe roller 20 moves up or down or otherwise toward and from the axis of the cylinder 3. Overlying the depending arm of the bell crank 21 is a strap 40provided with an'arcuate slot 41 and the arm carries a clamping screw 25 operating .within the..

slot to secure the arm in any desired kposition A spring 26 tends to swing the bell crank lever 21 about the journal pin 24 and to hold roller 20 in contact with flange 6.

An electric current is supplied to the indicating device by a battery 36 or any other suitableV means by way of the leads 26 and 27. The plate 23 being insulated from the cylinder 11 and supported on concrete base 23 is connected to ylead 26 and thus included in the circuit. Lead k27 is connected through bell 38 by wire 37 to the bearj ing 4. When the roller contacts the flange 6,

the circuit is closed. This causes the current to now through the bell 38 producing a warning signal when a predetermined settlement has occurred.

To maintain the adjustment of the feed pipe which is first located in alignment withthe axis of the cylinder and concentric withv the hollow trunnion into which it extends, the roller 20 is brought in contact with the flange 6 by moving the pointer 22 along the scale 35. The roller is The details of this adthen backed away a predetermined distance indicated on the Vernier 35. Preferably the scale is calibrated to correspond to the spacing of ratchet teeth 18 and the roller is backed off a distance equal to the distance the elbow 11 may be lowered by the rotation of the ratchet 18 and sleeve 14 through an angle preferably corresponding to the spacing of one tooth 18 from the next or any integral number of teeth and this reading is. noted. Ordinarily the spacing of the feeler is uniform for each adjustment.

When .the bearing 4 wears to a point where the `roller 20 comes again in contact with the flange 6, a'signalis `given by the bell, light or other suitable means actuated by the circuit described or otherwise, or dependence may be placed on an attendant to note the contact. The feed pipe is then adjusted downwardly and leveled by turn- .,ing ratchet 18 through an angle corresponding to the previously noted reading of the scale 35. With the form of adjustment shown this is done byA moving the ratchet wheel in a direction to lower vscrew 12, bringing the next tooth in contact with detent 19. If the feeler has been moved a distance corresponding to a number of teeth, the sleeve is turned a corresponding number of teeth 18 as indicated by the scale reading. The feeler 20 is then backed off a predetermined distance preferably a distance corresponding to the previously noted reading of scale 35 and clamped and the operation is repeated.

This adjustment may be performed as often as is found necessary or desirable to the operation of the mill, depending largely on the amount of material being treated.

Regarding the operation of the feed, it will be understood that as the material accumulates in standpipe 9 the pressure in feed pipe '7 increases. Thisfincreases the rate of feed to and through the cylinder making it dependent upon and largely proportionate to the rate at which the material is supplied to standpipe 9. The material, as its treatment is completed, is in the form of machine shown, discharged from the opposite end of the cylinder to that to which it is fed most conveniently by way of hollow trunnion 1' to which it is led through the foraminous end wall 3", the operation being preferably continuous. The rate of feed may be further controlled relatively to the head by means of ring plate 10' inserted in the union 8' between the adjacent pipe flanges orin any convenient manner. For this purpose these plates are formed in sets having the central opening of different sizes. The rate of feed proportionate to the head is adjusted by 1nserting the plate 10' having the opening of the proper size.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the precise details of the construction disclosed, and that various deviations-may be made therefrom without department from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1.. The combination with a rotary cylinder having bearings for supporting the cylinder applying the -supporting force in a direction transverse to the axis, and an axially placed feed opening, a pipe for delivering material to saidfeed opening, means for supporting and adjusting the pipe to center it with the opening and align it therewith, means for determining the extent of each adjustment, an indicator for determining the settlement of the cylinder as the bearings wear, fa-

cilitating the adjustment of the feed pipe proportionately to such settlement, said indicator for the cylinder consisting oi a pivoted lever having a feeler to engage a concentric portion of the cylinder, the indicator having a pointer moving proportionately to the feeler, a scale cooperating with the pointer and means for holding the feeler in spaced relation to the concentric portion in the direction of settlement.

2. A mill comprising a rotatable drum with its axis at an angle to the vertical, means including a hollow trunnion provided with a packing gland and bearings therefor supporting the drum, a feed pipe delivering material through the gland and into the hollow trunnion, a-surface carried by the drum concentric with theaXis of said drum, an indicator contacting said surface to indicate settlement of the drum due to wear of the bearings, a scale in connection with the indicator, and means for supporting for vertical movement and adjusting said feed pipe to correspond to the scale reading.

3. A mill comprising a rotatable drum, means including a hollow trunnion and bearings therefor supporting the clrurn and provided with a packing gland, a feed pipe delivering material through the gland and into the hollow trunnion, a surface concentric with the axis of said drum and rotating therewith, an indicator contacting said surface to indicate settlement of the drum, and means for supporting and adjusting said feed pipe to the indicated settlement of the drum.

LEVIGNE MORITZ ZEPP. 

